Machines for polishing or otherwise treating headed articles



May 7, 1957 Filed July 20. 1954 J. A. CLEIFF MACHINES FOR PoLIsHING 0R OTHERWISE TREATING HEADED ARTICLES J. A. CLEIFF May 7, 1957 MACHINES FOR POLISHING OR OTHERWISE TREATING HEADED ARTICLES Filed July 20. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 n ventor dafEP// f/FF May 7, 1957 J. A. cLElFF 2,791,069

MACHINES FOR POLISHING 0R OTHERWISE TREATING HEADED ARTICLES Filed July 20, 195.4 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 l l l l l l I I l- Inventor MME/1A. (2E/f May 7, 1957 J. A. cLElFF 2,791,069

MACHINES FOR POLISHING OR OTHERWISE TREATING HEADED ARTICLES Filed July 20. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 v Inventor MMI-Wwf (Q mfp May 7, 1957 E J. A. cLElFF 2,791,069

MACHINES FOR POLISHING 0R OTHERWISE TREATING' HEADED ARTICLES Filed July 20, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 arrancan inclined andy superimposed components 45, 46, 47, each having a slot 48 formed in and along its base. The uppermost component 45 extends downwardly and rearwardly from the mouth of the hopper, its lower end being located vertically above but spaced from the upper end of the lowermost component 47 which is inclined downwardly and forwardly towards the turntable 2.

As shown in Figuresi4 and 5, the upper end of the intermediate component 46 lis connected to the uppermost'component at a distance from the lower end of the latter, whereas, its lower end opens to the interior of the f lowermost component at any desired position between the ends of the said lowermost component. To ensure that any article which overshoots the intermediate chute component, is fed to the lowermost component, a screen 49 `(see Figure l), having converging sides, is secured to and between the upper end of the lowermost component and the lower end of the uppermost component, so that it is adapted to collect any such article and to transfer vthe saidarticle to the upper end of the lowermost chute component. i

The chute assembly is connected to, and is partially carriedby, a magnetic vibrator 50 of any known and suitable construction; the operation of the said vibrator tends to shake all the articles fed into the chute to the base of` one or other of the chute components so that the shanks of the said articles project into and downwardly` of the slots in the bases of the components,rwhere they are supported by their heads and are caused to traverse the complete assembly in succession. 2

The slots 48 in the chute components are arranged in a common vertical plane so that when one article enters and is suspendedwithin a slot in either ofthe two upper components, it is fed from that slot into the slot of a lower component. On the other hand, should an article, whether of standard dimensions or otherwise, fail to enter the slot-in the uppermost component, it travels relatively rapidly down and beyond the lower end of the said component, is collected by the screen49 and transferred to the lowermost component; if such article still fails to enter the slot in the lowermost component, again it passes relatively rapidly down and beyond the lower end of the latter and is rejected.

To enable such rejected articles (which, at least to a nate short of the lower end ofthe said component to enable rejected articles to fall into the tray 51. However, to enable the articles which are suspended in and traversed along the longitudinal slotted base of the corn-` ponent 47, to be fed to the slotted lip 6, the said base extends to and overlaps a transfer plate 53 (see Figures 7 and 9) fixed upon the frame of the machine and interposed between the chute component 47 and the lip 6 of the turntable 2; the said plate is formed with a cranked slot 54 of which the one end registers with the lower end of the slot 48 in the base of the component 47, whereas its opposite end opens at and substantially radially to the periphery of the slotted lip of the turntable. The transfer plate is not connected to the chute and, therefore, is not subjected to vibration; however, as shown' in Figure 9, a

portion of the plate which is adjacent the lip 6 is inclined Although it `is intended that the articles should be transferred from the hopper 39 to the uppermost chute component 45 at a controlled rate which is determined by the speed at which the piston 37 is reciprocated and by the number of articles which the recessed face of the piston head is capable of supporting during any one working stroke, nevertheless, there is a tendency for the articles to accumulate in the transfer plate 53 and the adjacent end of the base 0f the chute component 47, more particularly `when the leading articles of a fresh batch reach the discharge end of the chute. In the event of such an accumu lation taking place, it is possible that, as still more articles are added thereto, the vibration may cause the articles to pile up and jamb within the discharge end of the' chute; to prevent such circumstances arising, a resilient tongue 52r (see Figure 1) is secured to and projects from' the lower end of one side of the lowermost chute component; when the machine is at rest, the said tongue seats upon the outlet end of the portion of the base of the com-- ponent 47 which extends beyond the sides of the component; however, when the machine is operating and thef chute is being vibrated, the tongue is oscillated violently towards and away from the said projecting base portion' so that it imparts a succession of light blows to the heads of any articles accumulated in the discharge end of the slot 48.

The turntable is rotated continuously whilst the machine is in operation and as the leading article travelling along the slot 54 in the transfer plate 53 reaches the turntable lip, it passes into one of the radial slots 7 in the lip as the mouth of the said slot passes the outlet end of the plate slot, and thereafter is carried away by the turntable 2.

The radial slots are of a depth such that only one article can be accommodated in any one slot at the same time and to ensure that the article is retained within the slot with its head seated firmly on the upper surface of the lip before that portion of the article which depends below the said lip is gripped between the band and turntable periphery, a xed arcuate shield 55 (see Figure 7) is arranged adjacent to the lip edge between the transfer plate and the zone of the turntable periphery where the band comes into contact with the said periphery; `a flexible blade 56 which seats upon the upper face of the lip, is provided on the said shield. Further on the opposite side of the transfer plate to the shield, there is provided a resilient blade 57 which is anchored by one end to a vertical post 57a fixed upon the machine frame; the :said blade extends towards the zone of the turntable periphery where the band 8 leaves the latter, the free end of the said blade making rubbing contact with the turnv table periphery and its anchored end being spaced radially outwards of the edge of the lip.

Hence, after the grip on the depending portion of each lip-supported article is released, the said portion rides on to and along the resilient blade 57 land is constrained to move away from the turntable periphery with the result that the article is removed from the slot and falls below the turntable. One end of the blade 57 rubs against thebody of the turntable 2 below the slotted lip thereof, the opposite end of the blade being anchored at post 57a (see Fig. 7). As the articles are so removed, they are collected in la second discharge tray 58 `disposed below the turntable 2 and extending downwardly and forwardly of the machine, the lower end of the tray opening to an aperture 59 in the front of the machine, through which aperture the articles'are discharged into a suitable receptacle.

The polishing mop or equivalent device 27 is located between the zones where the band 8 comes into contact with and leaves the turntable periphery.

'Do ensure that each article or group of articles raised by the head of the piston 37 is transferred in its entirety to the upper end of the uppermost chute component 45, an open-ended funnel 60 is secured to the said component end; the large open end of the funnel overhangs the mouth of the hopper 39 whereas its opposite land smaller end opens into the chute between the sides of the component 4E Ai depend-ing; and' rearwardly inclinedl ledge 6151's Vprovi'c'ietl onJ the -upperQ edge 'ofthe' smaller funnel 4end torrninimise'the possibility ofthe articles, as they are transferred to Athefunnelfrom t thelpistonface bythe4 blade tl'ange'4'4g being thrown rclear of the chute.

Push button switchesf`62 for starting Aand stopping the motor 19 and vibrator 50 lare mounted' on-the fronts of the machine.

Towoperatc the machine, a batchvof'woodlscrews lor v4lilt'eheadec'larticles 'is' charged2 into 'the' hopper 39 and the motor and-'vibrator-"are startedi The motor drives the Iinput'shaft'19d-to the gear box 18"', the said shaft'rotates- 'the :mop 27' and thedriveI 'from theshaft is' transmitted Athrough the gear "boxato therthree output' shafts 15a, 34

yar1d39. Consequently, both theturntable Z'and'the band 'guide-wheel 4-are"rotated, theepiston 37 is reciprocated,

:place as the piston reaches the errd" of its upward: or

working stroke.

`Hence,thetlange44` impel's any article or articleswhich hasonhavefbeen lifted from the hopper uponthepiston head" face, from the said face yinto Iand through' the :funnel landY then .into and down the vibrating uppermost chute: :component- 451. The shanksof' the saidf'articles tenter the. slot4 48 .andfthe articles are suspended fbyfthei'r heads-in the said' slot so that they travel ini'succession down the'chute component-45; each articleistransferred bythecorrlp'onentk 46, or the screen' 49j, 'to' the lowermost I.component 47, eventually "being vdischarged from ,the projecting endy ofthe basey of thesaid lowermost component, along,v the slot- 54 in the transfer plate, into a 'slot..7 in the peripheral lip 6 (Isee Figure 91). The rotation fof the turntable 2 therefore carries the varticlesA in succession away from the transfer plate, each artiele againa being suspended by its lhead within a slot 6L so :thattits head is located onl top rofy thel lip and its shank ,extends downwardly alongside the periphery'of'the'turntable. Initially, each article is retained withinits slot anrzllits` head2 is pressed? upon the ytop of the lip,I by the 55 ,andV resilient flange'` 56 respectively; hence-'the upper: face 'of the head'A is located horizontallyandi' is preventedzfrom': damaging the periphery of theV mop when brought into contact' with the latter; As` the article passes heyondv the iiange 56; its shanl` is gripped (isee Fiiggure` ll.) 'between the band 8 and the turntable pe- .riphery.

:Since both theturnt'ables 2 and 4 are ofuniform diameter `and are rotated bythe chai`n14 and shafts 3, 5, the band 8 is driven by frictional contact with the turntableV peripheries sol that the said band* does not tend to disturb the position of the' grippedv article relatively to the=turntable or tov displace the upper face of the article head' from its horizontal position. v Before the 'leadingxarticle is fed' into the slotted lip 6, thewheel 33 isi-turned by hand so as to lower the arm '23 and' to bring the periphery of the rotating mop 27 into close proximity to the upper face ofthe turntable. Consequently, as each article is carried aroundY inthe said lip, thei upper face of its headis polished'ibythe mop, as indicated'in Figure 1'1".

Finally, the polished article passes the zone where the band 8' leaves the' turntable periphery' and comes into contact with and'T rides along the external vsurfaceofthe blade 57' (rseeFigure l`0`) sfo that it isremoved p'ositively from its slot in the' lip 6v` and'falls into lthe tray v58 down which `ittravels't'o and throughthe aperture 59.

' "Shouldn-article, dueto its' size' orti'orany otherreasonj,

fail to enter and traversex the slot 48 of the chute,y it Vtravels' ,rapidly down each 'of1 Vthe components-45, 46 and 47 and; yuponreach'i'ng the ends'y of the sides ofthe wmporrent 47`fall's from the latter into the rejection tray-51 andi/through the' aperture 521 To enable the 4machine to be adjusted for'polisliingfa batch of articles'ofi any given size, the sl'ot 4S`i`nthe-chut'es 452, 46'; 47 is variable-in width. Thus, the component 45 comprises-'two longitudinal parts which are held* in' spaced relationshipl by telescopic straps` 62 ofi whichaoneis shown in Figure 4, the intermediate component 46 also'consi'sting of two longitudinal parts eachoffwhich isfsecured to', and therefore adjustablesimultaneously with, the corresponding partsof' the component 45. The lowermost chute component again comprisestwo"longitudinal parts-of which the Vlower edges offthefblases are interconnectedf by= hinges 63 `(fsee `Figure l`f)`= andY the hinge pihs consist1 of lb'ol'ts -to whichnuts `are1 appled toxenable 4the parts :of-each ofthe hinges-to be securedf'against relative movement;

Insteadl of forming aconcave end: face on. the piston head; an upstandingor `rib may be provide'daround 'theeaid'headl Further andto uvar-y the number offarticles transferred to the chute-'over any given period; onto enable the same 4number of articles offdiiferent standard -ldinensions-tobe transferred in the same period, the head `-rnayr bedetachably'assembled" to the 'bodyl of the piston so-that, as and when desired;y it'may b'e replaced by-a Vheadh'aving'a: face of a different area'.

Whilst? the invention has: been specificallyvdescribed with reference;toa-.p'o1ishing machine, ity should be under- -stoodf that certain of itsV components, for" example the ymechanism for transferringJ the larticles from `the hopper ,tot thezchuteassembly,..and the chute assembly itself, `are capableV of being incorporated, in ruacl'rine'sry suitable for other purposes,"wherein batches of "relativ-ely small, headed articlesy are-to be transferred from the hopper `to` the treat'- .mentzzone-lof' thefrnachine.r

What lI claim irs:

1. A. .machine for: treating the headsof screwsand :like-headed articles, comprising a hopper for storing a batclrroff the' articles to be. treated, aturntable disposed atxa.lower level than-the hopper and 'having 'a peripheral lip whichv is;A formed with a number of. radial slots openingr, outwardly of the turntable, a` longitudinally slotted vvfeed chute extending :downwardly between'v the hopper andthe peripheral lip, .a tensionedband extending around a part" of the: turntable `periphery located belowr thev said lip kand 'spaced 'circumferentially' of the turntable from the chute `end. against the lip; power driven` means` for rotating` the turntable and means, for, transferring the articles in .succession fromr thehopper -to the chute.

2. A- machine; for treating' the heads of screws' and like ,headed articles,v comprising` a hopper for storing 'a batch yof the. articles: to'be treated, as` turntable located at azlower level than the hopp'er'and,l having aperipheralflip which is formed with a number of radial` slots opening outwardly of` the. turntable, al longitudinally slottedhchute extending downwardly between the hopper and the peripheraly lip',v a tensioned band extending around Aa part `of the turntable periphery/.located below the said lip and spaced circumferentially frornthe chute end adjacent'I the lip, power driven means for rotating the `turntable land imparting turntable driven endvvise movement to the band, a resilient arcuate shield contacting the turntable periphery belowthe said. lip and` between the; said chute endvand--the position where the said bandfeedsron Ltovthe turntable,V the said shield' being provided with a resilient arcuate ange which overhangs: and contacts the upper surface ofthe lip, an article treating tool vlocated above the-said' lip and'- the bandQcontact'edpart of' theturntable, andmeans for transferring the articles in succession from the hopper totheV chute.

Amacliine f'or treating the heads of screws and headed" articles, comprising a 'hopper'for' kstori'njg a Abatch which is formed with a number of radial slots opening outwardly of the` turntable, a longitudinally slotted chute extending downwardly between the hopper and the peripheral lip, a tensioned band extending around a part of the turntable periphery located below the said lip and spaced circumferentially from the chute end adjacent the lip, power driven means for rotating the turn- .table and imparting duim-driven endwise movement to the band, a resilient arcuate shield contacting the turn- `table periphery below the said lip and between the said -`rchute end and the position where the said band feeds on to the turntable, the said shield being provided with a Aresilient arcuate flange which overhangs and contacts the upper surface of the lip, a resilient blade disposed -pbetweenthe said chute end and the position where the band leaves the turntable, one end of the said band being anchored in spaced relationship to the turntable periphery `and its` opposite end making contact with the said periphery between the said anchored end and the said positionwhere the band leaves the turntable, an article treating tool located above the said lip and the band-contacted part of the turntable, and means for transferring the articles in succession from the hopper to the chute.

4. A machine for treating the heads of screws and like headed articles, comprising a hopper for storing a batch of articles to be treated, a turntable disposed `at a lower Alevel than the 'hopper and having a number Y `of radial slots opening toits periphery, a wheel of the `slide being loaded by a spring urging it away from the turntable and wheel, an endless band extending around .the turntable, wheel andpulley, power driven means for rotating the turntable and wheel at identical speeds, and

imparting endwise movement to the` band, a longitudinally slotted feed chute extending downwardly from the hopper to thatpart of the turntable periphery which is not contacted by the band, means for transferring the articles in succession from the hopper to the chute, and an article` treating tool disposed adjacent that part of the turntable periphery which is contacted by the band.

5. A machine for treating the heads of screws and like headed articles, comprising a hopper for storing a batch of the articles to be treated, a turntable located underneath the said hopper `and having a number of radial slots opening to itsperiphery, a chute extending downwardly from the hopper to the turntable periphery and comprising three longitudinally slotted components, namely an upper component which extends downwardly and away from the chute, a lower component which extends downwardly to the turntable periphery, and an intermediate component extending between the ends of the said upper and lowery components remote from the hopper and turntable respectively and the said components being located in the same vertical plane, power driven means for rotating the turntable, means for transferring the articles in succession from the hopper to the said upper chute component, and an article treating tool disposed above the slotted turntable periphery at a position removed from the end of the lower chute component which is adjacent the said periphery.

6. A machine for treating the heads of screws and like headed articles, Ycomprising a hopper for storing al batchof articlesto be treated, a turntable disposed `at a lower level than the'hopper and having a number of-radial slots opening to its periphery, a longitudinally Aslotted feed chute extending downwardly from the hopper to the periphery of the turntable, a gear gox, a drive input shaft to the gearbox, an arm journalled about the shaft` and carrying a rotatable article-treating tool above the slotted periphery of the turntable and means for transmitting'drive from the shaft to the tool, a first drive output shaft from the gear box and means for transmit ting `drive from the said outputy shaft to the turntable, mechanism for transferring articles in succession from the hopper to the shaft,V second and third drive output shafts from the gear box, and means for transmitting drive from the said second and third shafts to said transfer mechanism.

7. A machine according to claim 6 wherein the mechanism for transferring the articles from the hopper to the chute comprises a piston which is slidably accommodated within a cylinder disposed below and opening into the hopper, a crank fast with the said second output shaft and linked to the piston for reciprocating same within the cylinder andthe hopper so as to raise the piston head at least to the level of the top of the hopper, a spring loaded blade journalled upwardly of the latter and extending towards the piston, a drive `transmitting shaft geared to the said third output shaft and having a cam fast thereon, the fsaid cam being arranged in abutment with the blade for turning the latter against spring action and releasing same to permit spring actuation of the blade transversely of the head of the piston when the latter is at the upper end of its stroke.

8. A machine according to claim 6 wherein a pinion is fixed upon the first output shaft, `the turntable is fast upon a driven shaft on which a second pinion is fixed and an endless chain engages said pinions for transmitting drive from the said output shaft to said driven shaft.

9. A machine according to claim 6 comprising a wheel of the same diameter as and located in the plane of the turntable, a tensioned endless band passing around the peripheries of the turntable and wheel, a pinion fixed to the said first output shaft, the turntable being fast upon a first driven shaft on which a second pinion is fixed, the wheel being fast upon a second driven shaft on which a third pinion is fixed, the said second and third pinions being of the same diameter, and an endless chain passing around all three pinions for transmitting drive from the said first output shaft to the said driven shafts, turntable and wheel and from the turntable and wheel to the endless band.

l0. A machine according to claim 6 comprisinga wheel of the same diameter as and located in the plane of the turntable, a tensioned endless band passing around the peripheries of the turntable and wheel, a pinion fixed to the said first output shaft, an arm journalled about the axis of the said output shaft and having a jockey pinion journalled thereon, the turntable being fast upon a first driven shaft on which a second pinion is fixed, the wheel being fast upon a second driven shaft on which a third pinion is fixed, the said second and third pinions being of the samediameter, an endless chain passing around the said three pinions and the jockey pinion and the arm whereon the said jockey pinion is journalled being loaded by a spring which acts on the arm to tension the chain.

ll. A machine for treating the heads of screws and like headed articles, comprising a hopper for storing a batch of articles to be treated, a turntable disposed at a lower level than the hopper and having a number of radial slots opening to its periphery, an upper longitudinally slotted chute component extending downwardly away from the said chute, a lower longitudinally slotted chute component disposed vertically below the said upper component and extending from that end of the said upper ycomponent which is remote from the chute downwardly to the vicinity of the slotted periphery of the turntable, an intermediate longitudinally slotted chute component xedto the said remote end of the upper component and extending into the said lower component, a screen fixed to the said remote end of the upper component and to the corresponding end of the lower component, a vibrating device operatively connected to one of said components for vibrating the complete chute, and a transfer plate which spans the distance between the lower end of the said lower component and the periphery of the turntable, the said plate being overlapped by the said lower end and having a slot therein which registers with the slot in the said lower component and extends to the slotted periphery of the turntable, power driven 5 means for rotating the turntable, means for transferring the articles in succession from the hopper to the adjacent end of the upper chute component, and an article treating tool disposed above and adjacent the slotted turntable periphery. 10

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 248,120 Thompson Oct. 11, 1881 15 10 Harvey Mar. 31, Welker May 12, Sands Apr. 18, Hubbell Apr. 12, Koenig May 1, Koenig May 1, Butler Nov. 15, Chiniquy Apr. 6, Larson Oct. 26, Smith June 7, Cramer May 2, Schneider May 9, Baumle July 24, 

